Keynsham Business Association invited the three main political candidates to speak to their meeting last week about the old Cadbury’s Somerdale site. Both Labour and Conservative candidates pleaded other engagements and did not attend. Statements were read out by both.

Commenting on the news that Lord Ashcroft has at last admitted he does not pay tax on his world wide holdings senior Liberal Democrat Gail Coleshill said:

“The Conservatives think they can throw money from Belize at North East Somerset and buy the seat. They clearly under-estimate the people who know the Tories are trying to airbrush their record of pandering to the super-rich and ignoring everyone else.

Senior Lib Dem Gail Coleshill believes that many people have become disillusioned since the expenses scandal last year, and is encouraging them to back proposals that would put people back at the centre of our democratic system.

An open letter

For almost a year now I have been continuously inspired by the hard work of campaigners in Midsomer Norton to create their own Town Council. For years, there has been a growing dislike for Norton Radstock Town Council – an organisation that is increasingly out of touch with residents and has no public mandate to serve the community.

Last Spring, over 900 people in Midsomer Norton demonstrated their growing anger towards the current Town Council by returning a petition card calling for a Local Governance Review to take place. Later in the year, a further 700 people in Westfield signed a petition calling for the same for their area. That’s more than many B&NES Councillors get in their own elections!